United ISD's Special Education Department makes sure that no child is left behind at the Special Olympics held every year at the Bill Johnson Student Activities Complex or SAC. Just outside of the running track where hundreds of special needs athletes come to compete in track and field events, students with visual, sensory or autism-related disabilities enjoy their own version of the competition in a specially-made space shuttle interactive exhibit. The life size launch shuttle at the gate entrance was designed and created by the construction class at United South High School. Panther students David Moncivais, Luis Ramirez, Gabriel Segura, Hector Rodriguez, Arturo Macias used the skills they learned in their career and technical education class to build the project under the supervision of their teacher Carlos Lozano of CTE's Trade and Industry program.
Several employees from Special Education came together to organize this event. Teachers for the visually impaired that helped to create the multi-canopy tunnel with sensory activities were: Cristina Mendiola, Velma Donovan, Guadalupe Garza Brown, and Karla Morales. Clarissa Ramos from orientation and mobility was also on board. A rocket launch advisory was sent to the employees announcing the mission called Galaxy Quest 2023 to take off on the first day of the Special Olympics. It named the control base as the SAC home side of the field and launch time, directly after the torch lighting ceremony.
Clarissa Ramos said it took about one month to plan the sensory exhibit which focuses on special needs, such as multiple disabilities, students in wheelchairs, or any child who is unable to participate in the traditional Special Olympics games.
"We created these interactive activities just for them, so they can also participate in the games. Our goal was to provide a lot of sensory stations for the students to learn and enjoy the unique experiences. The walls of the tunnels are full of objects with different textures for them to feel. The displays have lights which are visually appealing to them. They see the solar system inside the rocket. They hear sounds of a real space shuttle. There is also a rocket that can fly across the sky after they give it a good tap and a countdown is heard. They see comets in orbit, and they can even travel the surface of the moon with two land rovers they can maneuver," explains Ramos.
Once they reach their final destination, the students and parents are greeted by a group of ROTC volunteers who present them with a medal and a photograph. About 50 students were expected to experience the Space Shuttle journey. The exhibit was held on the first day of the Special Olympics hosted by UISD at the SAC.
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